Preparation of Cobalt-free Composite Cathode for Efficient High Temperature Hydrogen Fuel Cell via One-pot Synthesis Method

doi:10.15541/jim20250155

Abstract

Abstract: High-temperature hydrogen fuel cell, solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), is regarded as an effective energy conversion device for achieving the "dual carbon" goals due to its advantages such as high energy conversion efficiency, strong fuel flexibility, environmental friendliness, and all-solid-state structure. To address the issues of high cost, volatility, high thermal expansion coefficient, and easy reaction with electrolyte of traditional cobalt-based cathodes, a cobalt-free composite cathode (O-SSF-SDC), consisting of 75%(in mass) perovskite oxide Sm_0.6Sr_0.4FeO_3-_δ (SSF) and 25%(in mass) fluorite structure Ce_0.8Sm_0.2O_1.9 (SDC), was prepared by one-pot synthesis method for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) application. The morphological results and element mapping images demonstrated that the O-SSF-SDC composite cathode exhibited uniform particle size, which provide more active reaction sites for the oxygen reduction reaction in the cathode. The symmetrical cell with O-SSF-SDC cathode showed a relatively low electrode polarization resistance of 0.175 Ω·cm² at 700 ℃ in air, while the maximum output power of the single cell equipped with O-SSF-SDC cathode reached 610 mW·cm^-2 when exposing the anode and cathode to 3% H₂O wet H₂ and ambient air, respectively, demonstrating comparable electrochemical performance to traditional cobalt-based cathodes. This work can provide reference for the development of efficient high-temperature hydrogen fuel cells.

Key words: high temperature hydrogen fuel cell, solid oxide fuel cell, cobalt free cathode, one-pot method

CLC Number:

TQ15

LIU Tong, HUANG Su, ZHU Shiyue, ZHA Fanglin, HU Xuelei, WANG Yao. Preparation of Cobalt-free Composite Cathode for Efficient High Temperature Hydrogen Fuel Cell via One-pot Synthesis Method[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, DOI: 10.15541/jim20250155.

References

[1] LIU M, LYNCH M B, BLINN K,et al. Rational SOFC material design: new advances and tools, Materials Today, 2011, 14(11): 534.
[2] JACOBSON A J.Materials for solid oxide fuel cells.Chemistry of Materials, 2010, 22(3): 660.
[3] KAUR P, SINGH K, Review of perovskite-structure related cathode materials for solid oxide fuel cells.Ceramics International, 2020, 46(5): 5521.
[4] NIU Y, SUNARSO J, LIANG F,et al. A comparative study of oxygen reduction reaction on Bi-and La-doped SrFeO₃-_δ perovskite cathodes. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 2010, 158(2): B132.
[5] DONG X, YU S, GU Y,et al. Tailoring SrFeO₃ cathode with Ta and F allows high performance for proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cells. Sustainable Materials and Technologies, 2024, 41: e01104.
[6] SUN Q, SUN L, DOU Y,et al. Insights into the oxygen reduction reaction on Cu-doped SrFeO₃-_δ cathode for solid oxide fuel cells. Journal of Power Sources, 2021, 497: 229877.
[7] XU H, ZHANG H, CHU A.An investigation of oxygen reduction mechanism in nano-sized LSCF-SDC composite cathodes.International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2016, 41(47): 22415.
[8] ZHANG D, YANG W, WANG Z,et al. Efficient electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction on a robust perovskite type cathode with in-situ exsolved Fe-Ru alloy nanocatalysts. Separation and Purification Technology, 2023, 304: 122287.
[9] YANG C, WANG Y, TIAN Y,et al. Electrochemical performance of symmetric solid oxide cells employing a Sc-doped SrFeO₃-_δ-based electrode. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2024, 485: 149970.
[10] ZHAO S, NA L, SUN L,et al. One-pot synthesis Pr₆O₁₁ decorated Pr₂CuO₄ composite cathode for solid oxide fuel cells. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2022, 47(9): 6227.
[11] HU F, LING Y, FANG S, SUI L,et al. Engineering dual-exsolution on self-assembled cathode to achieve efficient electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2023, 337: 122968.
[12] LIU Y, LIU T, ZHANG L,et al. One-pot synthesized NiFe₂O₄/CeO₂ composite catalyst for efficient degradation of methylene blue via photocatalysis under visible light. Catalysis Communications, 2023, 185: 106814.
[13] RASOULI S, MOEEN S J, Combustion synthesis of Co-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles using mixture of citric acid-glycine fuels.Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2011, 509(5): 1915.
[14] HUANG Y, QIU R, LIAN W, et al. Measurement of partial electrical conductivities and transport numbers of mixed ionic-electronic conducting oxides. Journal of Power Sources, 2022, 528: 231201.
[15] CHEN D, LIN Z, ZHU H,et al. Percolation theory to predict effective properties of solid oxide fuel-cell composite electrodes. Journal of Power Sources, 2009, 191(2): 240.
[16] BERTEI A, NICOLELLA C.Percolation theory in SOFC composite electrodes: effects of porosity and particle size distribution on effective properties.Journal of Power Sources, 2011, 196(22): 9429.
[17] ZHANG Y, XIA C.Film percolation for composite electrodes of solid oxide fuel cells.Electrochimica Acta, 2011, 56(13): 4763.
[18] HONG T, WANG Y, XIA C.Nano-structure effect on solid state fuel cells cathode durability,Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2013, 28(11): 1187.
[19] BAHARUDDIN N A, MUCHTAR A, SOMALU M R.Short review on cobalt-free cathodes for solid oxide fuel cells.International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2017, 42(14): 9149.
[20] DESTA H G, GEBRESLASSIE G, ZHANG J,et al. Enhancing performance of lower-temperature solid oxide fuel cell cathodes through surface engineering: a review. Progress in Materials Science, 2024, 147: 101353.
[21] JIANG X, ZHOU X, LIU L,et al. Electrochemical performance of a low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells with cobalt-based perovskite as the cathode. Materials Science and Engineering: B, 2025, 313: 117941.
[22] LUO Y, CHANG X, WANG J,et al. Precise regulation of in situ exsolution components of nanoparticles for constructing active interfaces towards carbon dioxide reduction, ACS Nano 2025, 19(1): 1463.
[23] WANG J, ZHANG D, LIU T,et al. Self-assembled FeRu bimetallic nanocatalyst for efficient and durable mutual CO-CO₂ conversion in a reversible solid oxide electrochemical cell, Science China Materials, 2024, 67: 1471.
[24] GAO J, WEI Z, YUAN M,et al. Boosting oxygen reduction activity and CO₂ resistance on bismuth ferrite-based perovskite cathode for low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells below 600 ℃. Journal of Energy Chemistry, 2024, 90: 600.
[25] GAO Y, ZHANG M, FU M,et al. A comprehensive review of recent progresses in cathode materials for Proton-conducting SOFCs. Energy Reviews, 2023, 2(3): 100038.